Events and Attractions

The NFL is giving away 500 Super Bowl LII tickets and "surprising fans across the country with more tickets throughout the season in the first year of a new initiative," according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Super Bowl tickets will also be "given away in Minneapolis at the Super Bowl Experience in the days leading up to the game at U.S. Bank Stadium." Beginning this week and continuing throughout the season, fans will be "surprised during tailgates, at stadiums, and even inside their own homes." More than half the tickets -- 256 of the 500 -- will be "given out by NFL clubs, with an additional 64 being distributed by the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominees, along with support from their teams." The remaining 180 tickets will be "distributed by the NFL at league events such as fan forums, youth football clinics, and through social media and other channels." The league also will "partner with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee to ensure local fans are identified" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/20).

The Pro Football HOF's national tour has stopped in Boston, where its "Gridiron Glory" exhibit allows visitors to "learn the science behind the game and get to know the inspirational stories of its pioneers, coaches, and star players, including those who broke down barriers," according to Bob Wallace of PATRIOTS.com. Visitors will get "closer to the game through the exhibits' many artifacts, award-winning photos, NFL Films footage, interactive and immersive experiences, and a special hometown section" during its limited engagement at Boston's Museum of Science, which ends Jan. 9. Visitors will "explore the connection between football and science through sports science interactives and artifacts showing the technological advances of equipment." Exhibit components "challenge both mind and body, including an active 'Training Camp' space for kicking and passing, challenges from the Combine including the vertical and broad jump, and the chance to step into the officials' shoes in the Instant Replay booth." More than 200 HOF artifacts, "award-winning photographs, one-of-a-kind documents and storied footage from the NFL Films' archives will be on display" (PATRIOTS.com, 10/19).